Sam

  “Are you all right, boy?” Naya asked. “You look stiff, standing there like that.”

  Naya's voice brought Sam back to his senses, and he took a step back. He frantically checked his entire body. He had no idea what the cat had done to him. "I think I'm fine, I hope."

  “You look well, Mr Read,” Ruby said. “Although I must admit what I just saw was astonishing. That the cat is capable of magic.”

  “It is not unusual for animals to perform magic. That is why we came here to eat. Alma wanted to see if the rumors were true, and they were after all,” Naya said.

  Sam stared at the gray cat, and she gazed back calmly with her alluring yellow eyes. The cat let out a big yawn, turned around on its blue velvet pillow, and settled down to continue the nap that Sam had disturbed.

  "Do you like cats, Mr Read?" Ruby asked.

  Outside, a downpour was falling. The wind and rain battered against the roof and windows of the restaurant, drowning out the voices of the customers inside. Yet Sam still managed to hear the question.

  “I like animals,” he answered. He was standing near the stairs, beside the cat. He had been curious about her, the little throne they had made for her, and the rumours of the incredible tricks she performed. So he went to meet her.

  The feline belonged to the restaurant owner. The waitress who had accompanied them to their table told them the cat's story. Her name was Queen. She had been brought in to hunt vermin, but the cat turned out to be cunning and found better prey among the restaurant's customers. The first floor became her favourite place. There, hidden from the owner and workers' eyes, she had complete freedom to seduce customers and get food. The owner, of course, found out about her mischief, but instead of stopping her, he found it amusing. As a result, the cat became fat and lazy. And since she likes to spend all day upstairs, the owner built her a little throne: a chair with a velvet cushion next to the stairs. So she could rest and watch her domain.

  Why didn't anyone tell me that the tricks were actually spells? Sam sighed. He hoped the cat hadn't done some harm he was still unaware of.

  Ruby sat at a table not far from Sam, with Naya Sako, Alma's bodyguard. The two women were drinking red wine, some Iberian brand that had made Alma cry with joy when she saw it on the menu, and Sam frowned at the price.

  “I like dogs better,” Naya said. “They will defend you when you are in trouble. But cats… I wouldn’t count on them.”

  “If they were as big as dogs, maybe they would fight for you too,” Ruby said.

  “I doubt it. I bet they will still run away, leaving me to my fate,” Naya said, shaking her head.

  ?Sam walked away from Queen and sat at the table with the women. Ruby had taken off her coat, revealing a pinstriped blouse and the silver necklace around her neck that she always carries with her. Naya, for her part, wore the military uniform of the Temple of Idnus: white trousers with black boots; a white tunic with brass buttons and red-dyed cuffs and collar; and a white longcoat that had the image of a tree embroidered in red on the back. The coat hung over the back of her chair.

  The three of them were on the first floor of The Flower of the Prairie restaurant. It was enormous: a two-storey building that occupied an entire street corner. The fa?ade had large glass windows that allowed passers-by to see inside. Sam was amazed by the size of the place and its expensive décor, as he believed that such a place could not exist outside the capital. It far surpassed the restaurants he had previously visited with Alma and company. This little trip had changed his perspective on the world. He had always believed, like every Asprainard, that Candstone was the centre of the world and that there was no other place like it.

  The atmosphere in the restaurant was opaque, filled with whispering voices and a bluish haze of tobacco smoke. A dim light sadly poured inside through the windows surrounding the floor. Outside, the rain was bucketing hard. Dark clouds had bloated the sky grey over the city and the surrounding lands. Sam once again felt the cold, damp air of the rain on his body. How strange, he thought. For a moment, he had forgotten how cold the morning was. He could have sworn that the weather had actually turned warm. But apparently, it was just his imagination.

  The cat turned around on her cushion.

  Sam filled his glass with the wine from the table and raised it to his eyes. It was the first time he had ever drunk alcohol from a glass or tasted such an expensive wine. He would have preferred to order beer. It was cheaper. The bottle cost weeks of his salary as a police officer.

  “Vamos, chico, try it. It tastes better when others are paying,” Naya said, winking at him.

  He took a sip, then another. He tasted a mild alcoholic flavor, different from what he was used to. “I like it,” he said.

  Naya smiled. She had short, curly hair and cobalt-blue eyes. She was taller than Sam and had the body of a trained swordswoman: slim yet toned. She was an attractive young woman. Her ebony skin made her stand out among the other women in the restaurant; the white over black of her uniform and body gave her an exotic beauty that caught the eye of the men surrounding the table, including Sam. She was intelligent and well-educated. She spoke Asprainard fluently, though with a faint Iberian accent. Sometimes a word or phrase in Iberian would slip out when she spoke naturally.

  “Poor Alma. She was so happy to have this wine, but now she won’t be able to enjoy it,” she said, flashing her white teeth with a smile. She finished her drink and then poured herself some more.

  A couple of tables away from them sat Sam and Ruby's target: Alma Rivera. She had olive-green eyes and long grey hair tied back in a ponytail, though not properly, as a few strands fell loosely over her aged face. They bothered her. She constantly brushed them away with her hand while talking to the man in front of her. She wore the same uniform as Naya, but hers had gold lace on the shoulders, collar, and cuffs. An officer's uniform.

  Alma was terribly intelligent and seemed to know and have an opinion on everything. She knew more about Asprain than Sam and Ruby combined. Her Asprainard dialect was perfect, as if she had been born and lived her entire life in that country. She had been a magic teacher at one of the many military academies in the city of Helsane for decades, until her official retirement from education two years ago. Her patience, her calm voice, and her constant lectures made Sam feel like he was in a classroom receiving lessons. The passion for teaching still burned strong within her. The man speaking to her was her captain, Harvey Barr, a man with hair and eyes as red as fire. He wore the same white, red, and gold uniform as her. Sam didn't like him. Every time they met, he had the impression that Harvey wanted to hit him.

  “It seems the conversation isn’t going well between Alma and the captain,” Naya said.

  It was clear that Harvey was doing most of the talking, while Alma just listened with her arms crossed, looking at her captain as if she wanted to slap him. Sam remembered that she hadn't said a single nice word about the man since their first day together.

  “She was looking at you a moment ago, Sam,” Ruby said.

  "Really?"

  “Yes, it was when you were playing with the cat. Does Mrs Alma like cats, Miss Naya?”

  “She has an old cat at home, a black and white one named Mrs Rosa. She has fifteen years with her,” Naya said.

  ?Harvey stood up from the table. It seemed the conversation was over. Before leaving, he said something to Alma that made the old woman look away. Harvey smirked, seeing her reaction. He gave a slight bow and left. But instead of heading for the stairs, he went over to Sam's table.

  Naya jumped to her feet and gave a salute. "?Saludos, Capitán!" she shouted. The people in the restaurant turned to look at her.

  “Rest easy, Corporal,” Harvey said. “We’re not on duty. How’s everything going around here?”

  “Everything is fine, sir.”

  “Good, very good. And how are your companions treating you? I expect there have been no problems so far.”

  “They have been good hosts, sir.”

  “Good. Very good.” Harvey stared at Ruby and Sam.

  There's that look again. I'm sure this bloke wants to kill us.

  “Is there a problem, sir?” Ruby asked. Sam saw the hardness in her eyes. She remained unfazed by Harvey’s harassment.

  “Is there one, miss?” Harvey asked sarcastically.

  “Your gaze makes me feel uncomfortable.”

  Oh, good one. Give it to the bastard," Sam thought, hiding his smile.

  Harvey smiled coldly. He looked at Naya. “Sit down, Corporal. There’s no need to stand.”

  Naya hesitated, but Harvey's withering glare forced her to sit down.

  “Well, I’d better be going. I need to meet with Gustave and Isabela. Have a nice meal,” he said with a slight bow. He gave Sam and Ruby one last scathing look and walked away.

  Naya breathed a sigh of relief when Harvey went downstairs. “I can't stand that man,” she muttered.

  ?“Are you afraid of him, miss?” Ruby asked.

  “Of course not. I just don’t want Alma to get into any more trouble because of me.”

  "Could you fight him?" Sam asked. "I know you can both resonate."

  Naya smiled smugly. “I would not know how to answer that. The captain may be an idiot, but he is a good leader. I do not want to fight him.”

  “But it seems like he hates us,” Ruby said.

  Naya nodded. “He knows why you are here. He is afraid Alma might say or do something she should not. He wants you to stay away from her.”

  “Why doesn’t he order her to stay away from us?” Sam asked. “He’s her superior.”

  "Have you ever dealt with an invoker?" Naya asked.

  "No, never."

  “Then you will learn. Invokers are difficult to control, even in the army. They live in their own bubble, and they hate it when someone bursts it.”

  ?Alma remained alone at the table for a while. Sam and the others watched her. He thought that perhaps she was waiting for the bitterness of her conversation with Harvey to pass before returning. Alma let her hair down and tied it back up again. She then got up and joined the others. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said, forcing a smile.

  “No se preocupe, mi se?ora,” Naya said. “We’re fine here, aren’t we?”

  Ruby and Sam nodded.

  "How did it go? What did the captain want?" Naya asked.

  Alma sighed as she sat down. "What do you think? He talked about the job. I've told him countless times that I don't want anything to do with the search. I gave him my vote to do whatever he wanted. However, the man doesn't trust me. He thinks I'm setting him up."

  “Don’t pay him any mind, mi se?ora. He’s not as clever as his friend Gustave.”

  “I won’t contradict you on that, my dear.” Alma noticed the half-empty wine bottle. “I see you’ve been having a good time despite my absence.”

  “It’s a good wine,” Ruby said.

  “It certainly is. And you, Sam? What do you think?”

  Sam arched his shoulders.

  “My gods! Your face tells me you've drunk better. Do you work as a sommelier in your spare time, perhaps?”

  “No… What is that?”

  “An expert in wines and other similar beverages,” Alma replied. “Well, if you haven’t, why the apathetic response? Don’t you like it?”’

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I usually drink beer.”

  “Pues, think of this as your introduction to fine wine. You have to start somewhere, right? Come on, try it again.” Alma poured wine into Sam’s glass and her own. “And this time, don’t just gulp it down. It’s not a lager or amber ale you’re drinking, but an A Menina Rosário from the famous Vale do Caolho. You’re tasting the result of generations of hard work and passion. Savor it. Feel the history of the grape, the land where it was born, the years it took to ripen, and the master hand that made it all possible.” She took a sip from her glass and closed her eyes, immersing herself in the flavor.

  Sam imitated her. It tasted the same as before. He wondered if by drinking more or thinking harder, he would understand what she meant.

  “Great, isn’t it? You can feel the tradition, passion, and care that went into it. That’s what makes it wonderful.” She smiled and drank more.

  “Where is this Vale du calo?” asked Sam.

  “It’s Vale do Caolho, or Valley of the One-Eyed Man in your language,” Alma corrected him. “It’s a region in western Iberia famous for its vineyards, in what was formerly known as the Kingdom of Braga.”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Is Iberia a union like Asprain?”

  “Of course. Didn’t you know?”

  "No."

  I don't blame you. It's been over 300 years since Casterra, Ebre, and Braga formed Iberia. It's understandable why most foreigners don't remember the ancient kingdoms. Braga is a beautiful place, especially its capital: Pés na água. It is recognized as the westernmost city on the entire Vestrican continent, not counting the islands, of course. They say that from the air, the land where the city stands looks like a foot stretching towards the sea. I suggest you visit it sometime. You'll love it.

  “I’ll think about it,” Sam said. With what I get paid, the most I can afford is a trip to the next province, he thought.

  ?“Ma’am, may I ask what the captain said?” Ruby asked shyly.

  Alma chuckled. “Curious, this young lady. I don't think there'll be any trouble if I tell you. That way you'll have something to report to your boss. My captain came to fill me in on the search for José. I've told him many times that I'm not interested. But it seems his ears aren't working.”

  “Detective Noel came back today,” Ruby said. “We just saw him. Right, Sam?”

  Sam nodded. “Looks like they ran into some trouble,” he said.

  “That’s what I heard from my captain,” Alma said. “I understand they’re waiting for a response from the capital to see if a deal can be struck with the witness.”

  “What deal are you talking about, ma’am?” Naya asked.

  Alma gave Naya a recap of the case's events, from the interview with Talon to the bodies the detectives found in Pitfall. Ruby filled in the parts Alma omitted.

  “Pero válgame cielo! What a tragedy,” Naya exclaimed. “So they are waiting for the man to speak so they can continue.”

  “It seems so,” Alma said.

  “What do you think of the case, ma’am?” Ruby asked. “I know you wish to remain uninvolved, but you should at least have an opinion on this whole mess.”

  Alma's eyes focused for a moment on Ruby, then stopped on Sam. "And what do you think, my young Sam?"

  “Well… We can’t do anything until Talon speaks, if he ever speaks.”

  Alma smiled and turned to Ruby. “There’s my answer, my dear.”

  “But, ma’am. That doesn’t count. That’s Sam’s opinion.”

  "And unfortunately, it's the one we all share. How many days have passed since the massacre at the Austins' home? Seventy, eighty? Tell me honestly, both of you: do you think that after so much time has passed, we will ever find the whereabouts of our fugitive? Pues, I don't think so, and I've told my captain the same thing. The man, however, believes that we can proceed with what the witness says. "It costs him nothing to believe in illusions."

  “I understand your frustration, ma’am,” Ruby said. “But you have to understand that’s how it all works. Results aren’t always immediate. That's why we must always keep trying until we achieve our goal.”

  “I know all about being persistent, my dear. I’m an invoker—perseverance is our last name. But tell me: would you say the same thing to a man trying to demolish a wall with just his fists? That he should keep at it like a madman, and if his arms get tired, or his knuckles turn to dust, he should use his head and end everything, the poor fellow.”

  Hearing this, Ruby didn’t know how to respond. She limited herself to drinking another sip of her glass.

  “I’m sorry, dear,” Alma said, noticing the young woman’s discomfort. “But I’m telling you this from the bottom of my heart—I don’t want to know about Jose’s case. I’m too old for these kinds of adventures.”

  “So why did you come to Iberia, ma’am? Wouldn’t it have been better to stay at home?” Ruby asked.

  Alma let out a long sigh, which she smothered with a gulp of wine. “To help a friend,” she said.

  “Se?ora,” Naya protested. “Watch what you say, or the captain will get angry.”

  “I know, darling. I’ll keep my tongue tied, but at least I can say something, right?”

  Sam and Ruby leaned over the table when they heard her. Naya shook her head and poured herself more wine.

  “Harvey wasn’t the original commander of the delegation,” Alma continued. “Our mission was under someone else’s command. Unfortunately, problems in his home country forced him to return home, leaving the delegation in Harvey’s hands.”

  “And who is that person?” Ruby asked.

  “I can’t tell you. Orders, you know. But I can at least tell you that he’s a champion.”

  Ruby smiled wide. “Oh my gods, who, who?”

  “I can't say. How about you, my dear Naya?”

  “I prefer to keep my mouth closed,” Naya said, avoiding Sam and Ruby’s gaze.

  “So a champion was the leader of the delegation,” Sam said. “But why? Why was it necessary to send a champion for the murder of a priest?”

  Alma shrugged. “I haven’t the slightest idea. I agreed to come because my good friend asked me to. The scoundrel, however, decided to change course before we even left without consulting me, abandoning me to my fate with his second-in-command, and you all know how badly he and I are getting along. My understanding is that my friend instructed Harvey to always consult with me regarding the matter of Jose’s search and the investigation surrounding the death of Priest Johnson. And of course, our dear captain dislikes this whole business. That is the reason for our quarrels.”

  “What an immature little man,” Ruby said.

  “Indeed, he is,” Alma said. “But that’s enough. Let’s not talk about that man anymore, or my treacherous friend, or the case. Let’s move on, please. Isn’t there something else we could discuss?”

  ?Ruby looked at Sam and made gestures to him, but Sam couldn't understand what she wanted.

  “Madam,” Ruby said. “Are you still planning to go on your trip?”

  Isn't it too soon to talk about this? Sam thought. We should discuss it after the meal.

  Alma said nothing, but her face showed that she was not happy with the question. She took her gold watch from her pocket and looked at it. "We've wasted precious time, to be honest." She raised her hand and called a waiter.

  The waiter, a chubby young man, came running and took everyone's order. Alma asked for a second bottle of wine. Sam felt helpless listening to what the women were ordering. He was sure Noel would tie him to the roof of a carriage and parade him around town when he handed over the receipt.

  “I’m planning to go north, as far away as possible from Harvey and the delegation,” Alma said after the waiter left.

  “North? Where exactly? Asprain is a vast country.”

  “I know.” Alma closed her eyes for a moment. “I would like to visit Nivewall.”

  “What!?” Ruby cried, nearly jumping out of her seat. “B-but Nivewall is hundreds of miles to the north. It's madness to go that far, ma'am.”

  “One thousand and sixty-two miles, to be precise,” Naya said, looking at her glass with a weary expression.

  “And that's why we will go by boat. Isn't that right, my dear Naya?”

  “There's no other way,” Naya replied indifferently.

  “But, ma’am, you don’t have to go that far to get to know our country. Why not come back to the capital and spend a few days there? You know, people around here like to say that if you know the capital well, you know all of Asprain. Right, Sam?”

  “That’s what I’ve heard.”

  Alma rolled her eyes. “Don’t take me for a fool, girl. I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m warning you, whatever you say or do, you won’t change my mind. Naya and I have already booked our boat tickets, and we’ll be leaving this Sacrado.”

  “Everything is ready and packed,” Naya said without emotion, as if she were reading it from a piece of paper.

  Ruby looked at Naya and Alma, seeking confirmation with her eyes, still hoping it was all a lie from them.

  “Forget it. Nothing will stop her,” Naya said.

  “Sam, come on, say something, or you’re going to spend the whole time kissing the glass.” Ruby hit him on the shoulder.

  Sam sat up straight in his seat and looked at Alma with a serious expression. “Madam,” he said in a firm voice.

  “Tell me, my dear.”

  “Please don’t go,” he pleaded. “Noel wants you to stay with your people.”

  “Sam!” Ruby shouted. “She doesn’t need to know that.”

  “If we tell her the truth, we might be able to convince her not to go,” he said.

  Alma laughed. “That was a good idea of ??yours, my dear Sam. However, I won’t be able to oblige you.”

  "And what if I tell you that going to Nivewall is a bad idea right now?"

  Alma raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Nivewall is not a safe place these days. I’m warning you.”

  "Are you referring to the feeble political movements calling for independence? Is that what you're talking about? Because if so, I'm going to have to disappoint you, my young man, for I have seen worse revolts in the Madlands, like when the strongholds and cities fail to pay their debts on time to the merchant guilds that supply them, and in response, the guilds set out to block roads and highways; meanwhile others take advantage of the chaos and turn to banditry. Your pathetic revolutionaries don't scare me.”

  “You shouldn’t underestimate the protests, ma’am. They may not pose a serious threat now, but who knows what the future holds? They’ve been gradually growing,” Sam said.

  “But we’re talking about the distant future, and I don’t plan to stay in this country for the rest of my life.”

  “I understand…” Sam looked at Ruby. “I tried,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

  ?“If you're so concerned about where I'm going, why don't you come with me?”

  “Go with you? Us?” Ruby asked.

  “Yes, you. I remember asking for two youngsters to keep me company, didn’t I? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of abandoning the job?”

  “Well… I don’t know. What do you think, Mr Read?” Ruby asked.

  "I'm not sure."

  “I’ll cover the expenses, of course. After all, I’m the one inviting you,” Alma said. “And what's more, I'll give you lessons in majaádo.”

  “Majaádo? What’s that?” Sam asked.

  “Magic. Majaádo means magic in the language of the seraphs. We, the invokers, have adopted the term as the official name for what we do, as a presumptuous attempt to separate ourselves from the charlatans who make a living with their deceptions in the streets and circuses. What do you think? You're going to receive lessons from a teacher of majaádo, and best of all, for free.”

  “But we're not invokers, what use would the lessons be to us?” Ruby asked.

  “My dear, answer honestly, what do you have to lose? Aren’t you a little curious to know how modern magic works? And what about you, my dear Sam, don’t you want to know what the cat did, and how she did it?”

  “I didn't see on her that shiny mark invokers have on their right hands. I always thought that was what caused the white glow.”

  “It has always come from our body. You were the one who assumed it came from our right hand. The reason there was no mark on the cat is because we use different systems. The system the cat uses is the obsolete system humanity used before. Are you interested in learning more? I think we have a few minutes before the meal arrives for a quick lesson. Maybe I can charm you a little so you’ll come with me.”

  “What do you think?” Ruby asked Sam. Her bright eyes told him that she had already made up her mind.

  The last thing Sam wanted was to share a trip with Alma. But how could he explain his reasons to Ruby? She would surely mock him and advise him to stop acting like a fool. There was no resemblance between Alma and his late grandmother. It was all in his head. It wasn't the first time someone had reminded him of her, of Lexi. He kept finding her eyes in any stranger who managed to emulate her kindness. It was time to walk away from the past. Maybe the long journey would help, and he would finally be able to let go of the memory. He just had to be careful not to confuse Alma with Lexi in a moment of carelessness and mention her name. That would be a sure humiliation.

  “We have no other choice,” he said. “We were ordered to stay close to her. We must follow orders.”

  “It’s a deal, ma’am,” Ruby said cheerfully. “We’ll keep you company.”

  “Very well,” Alma said with a smile. "Now, pay attention to what I'm about to say. Since there is too much to cover regarding my profession, which is impossible for me to condense into a short lesson, I will use what happened between Sam and the cat as a foundation, notably the white light. Many take for granted the reason for the light, and become shocked when I explain it to them.

  “Now, to begin with, I will start with some questions. What do you think of the white light? What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see it?"

  “That’s easy,” Ruby replied. “It makes me think of an invoker.”

  “I think the same,” Sam said.

  “It’s obvious, of course. Our experience and knowledge tell us that the white light is related to a spell, and also to an invoker. Pues, let me tell you, this is the reason why the light exists. Its job is to alert all observers present that an individual has just performed a spell. Imagine the light as the curtains rising at the beginning of a play. The light tells us to turn our heads and see what is going to happen. It demands our attention.”

  “Why?” Ruby asked.

  “Because, simply put, magic is a team effort between the invoker and its audience. Both are necessary for magic to exist. To further emphasise my point, let me tell you that no spell can be cast secretly. The light always comes out.”

  "And what about those spells that make you invisible, or that put people to sleep?" Sam asked. “Are those also affected?”

  Alma chuckled. “I see little Sammy likes fantasy stories, doesn’t he?”

  Sam's heart nearly stopped when he heard Alma. "N-no, it's just, just curiosity," he stammered.

  “Well, let me disappoint you. There are no spells that make you invisible in the Codex known to humans. Those are just fictions. However, I cannot say the same about the seraphs and the gods. They are capable of accessing more chapters of the Codex, so it may be that spells such as you imagine do exist.”

  “Will you tell us about the Codex?” Ruby asked.

  "Another time. Let's focus on the present. In short, as I've said, the invoker and its audience are necessary for magic to exist. And the reason lies in the fact that magic depends on everyone's belief to justify its existence. If no one believes in magic, magic doesn't exist."

  “Just by believing,” Ruby murmured. “Is it really that simple?”

  “Everyone’s belief helps me to make magic. Therefore, it is expected of me to warn others every time I’m casting a spell. This is unavoidable. I have no control over the white light, just like I have no control over everyone’s beliefs. The white light will always come out.

  “When the cat cast her spell, she used the belief of the people in the restaurant, of the city's inhabitants, of the citizens of this kingdom, of the continent, and of every living being on this planet. Each of us believes in magic, and as a result, our belief makes it possible. However, this also presents us with a setback, a problem that damages and sabotages this communion between the invoker and its audience. We are not all the same, nor do we all think alike. A world of minds, and a world within each one.

  “But fortunately for us, some powerful entity, or advanced civilization hundreds of thousands of years ago, observed this problem and set about finding a solution. The solution found was for everyone to use the same language, so that our thoughts and ideas would align as closely as possible. The seraphs call this language Ingujeé, and the system derived from it is called Kalejaay, but we humans know it as Spelldraw.

  "Sadly, at this time I cannot show you how it works in action, because we are on private property, so we’ll leave it for a future demonstration. My point is to clarify the importance of belief in magic. It's one of the four components that make a spell possible. The others are Sayr, language, and the invoker. This is why the gods ask for our faith. They receive power from our recognition."

  “If I understand correctly, this new language, or system, is better because we can all speak it, right?” Ruby asked

  “Being able to speak it isn't the reason. Spelldraw isn't only used by humans and seraphs, but also by thousands of other civilizations, across many worlds. We all contribute to making this system, or rather language, so successful. The belief of a single world is incomparable to that of hundreds or thousands of similar ones.

  “But to say we can speak it would be dishonest. Only the gods can. All that remains for us is to write it. This is essentially what the mark on our right hands represents. It is a written description of the spell we just created.”

  “Why can’t we speak it? Is it forbidden?” Ruby asked.

  “It’s not like that at all. It’s just that we can’t pronounce the words, because communication doesn’t depend on sound, but on something else. It’s hard to explain. You have to experience it to understand what I’m saying. It’s as if they’re speaking directly to your soul, and you only need a few words to tell a story, or a few sentences to narrate a whole life. You’re overwhelmed by such an experience, I assure you.”

  “Have you experienced it, ma’am?” Sam asked.

  “Yes… It was when I visited the Pantheon of Esliana in Helsane. The goddess honored me with just a few words, but I will never forget that experience. The ability to speak Ingujeé is what a seraph needs to become an Enlightened One, and later, a God. It is as difficult for them to reach that level as it is for us to become a Grandmaster.”

  ?“Se?ora, mire. I think that is our food they are bringing,” Naya said, looking ahead.

  Two waiters approached carrying plates. Behind them came another, holding a bottle of wine with both hands.

  "Unfortunately, my young students, our food signals the end of the lesson. And believe me when I say there's much more to cover. Such as artifacts, blessings and curses, the advantages and disadvantages of Spelldraw, what is sayr and sayr quartz, how spells work, the importance of territory, body strengthening and tuning, the Codex, the three spell branches and their costs, and much, much more."

  “Mi se?ora, you're missing something,” Naya said. “You forgot the World.”

  “By the gods! How could I have forgotten that scoundrel? Indeed, I forgot to mention the World and his stupid rules. But enough of that. Let’s leave everything for another day. It’s time to eat.”